Furniture brace and controlling device



Oct. 8, .1929. T. H. WITTLIFF FURNITURE BRACE AND CONTROLLING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 18, 1925 A7 TORNEYJ Oct. 8, 1929. T. H. WITTLIFF 1,730,442

FURNITURE BRACE AND CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1925 v '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (pig a A TTORXEYS Oct. 8,1929. T. H. WITTLIFF FURNITURE BRACE AND CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheei ag/ Ma ma lsatented Oct. 8 19 29 warren sta rs tra n 'rnnononn I-I. WITTLIIE'F, or, CLEVELAND, OHIO, I

FURNITURE aneen AND CONTROLLING niivrcn 7 Application filed. June 18, 1925. Serial No. 37,946.

This invention, as indicated, relates to a furniture brace and controlling device. More particularly it comprises a brace particularly adapted for use on beds wherein a box spring 6 is employed. However, the construction may be applied to articles other than those illustrated, as will be obvious.

It has heretofore been proposed toprovide a tensioning device for beds and the like,

10 which woud draw the corner posts against the side and end wall members. In most instances such tension is applied in the plane of the side frame members. However, where upholstering, drawers, or box springs would prevent the positioning of such tension device in the plane of the side members, it is necessary that the tension be applied in a lower plane, using equalizing devices to transfer the pressure to the plane of the side frame members, as is shown in a co-pending application filed by me.

Such means to transfer the tensionto the plane ofthe side frame members, while entirely satisfactory from an operative standpoint, may in some instances be open to the objection that the tensioning device is displayed conspicuously beneath the box-spring, and detracts from the artistic general appear ance of the bedstead, or other article of fur- 36 niture.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of a furniture brace which will draw the end and side frame members firmly against the corner posts, and

which will at the same time-be concealed within the space adjacent the side and end frame members.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a tensioning device of the character mentionech'which will permit a box spring to be used upon a bedstead with as much freedom as though a bed brace were not applied thereto.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide means operating upon thesame principle as that above described, which is particularly adapted for use with metal beds, and includes a bowed corner fixture which co-operates with a single flexible tensioning elementlying parallel to and closely adjacent the side and end members of a bed frame, and permitting the use of a box spring or similar construction, without interference'with the application of suitable tension to the I bed frame in the plane of the side members.

Another ob ect of the invention is to provide a tensioning means for applying tension to the corner posts as well as to the side and end frame members.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide convertible clips which admit of the use of the ordinary spring'or a box spring within the same bed frame, and also facilitatprovide a double wire tensionlng means 00- operating with a turn buckle at one side or end of the bed and with an equalizing device upon the opposite side or end of the bed, whereby an extremely high degree of tension may be applied to said bedstead, and equal draft upon all portions of the tensioning-device be provided for. v

Otherand further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particulary pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means'constituting, however,

but several-of various mechanical forms in which the used. V i Y In said annexed drawings: j

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partially in section, showing the application of one form of my invention to the frame of an article of furniture; Fig.2 is a fragmentary perprinciple of the invention may be spective View showing the flexible elements in their relation to .the corner construction of an article of furniture; 3 and 4 are perspective views, respectively, of the cable engaging plate and bracket attachmenttherefor, which'are applied to the side and end members of a bedstead; Figs. 5 and 6 are viewssimilar to Figs. 3 and a, showing a modified form of construction; Fig. 7 is a side view of the type of plate disclosed in Fig.5,when' applied to a metal bed equipped with a box spring; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig; 7 showing the bracket attached to the plate shown in Fig. 5 in position to support a standard bed spring and mattress; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the device applied to a wooden bed; Fig. 10 is a View similar to F ig. 8 showingthe device applied to a wooden bed; Fig1l is an enlarged detail view showing a modified form of turn buckle, somewhat similar to that disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a perspective View of a looped form of cable construction,

with a modified form of turn buckle and equalizing device; Fig. 13 is an enlar ed view of a modified form of equalizing de vice; Fig. 1 1 is a modified form of tensioning device somewhat similar to that disclosed in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a sidev elevation of. a modified form of tensioning device in assembled relation; Fig. 16 discloses one member of said tensioning device and Fig.1? discloses the other member of said tensioning device shown in Fig. 15; 18 is a fragmentary perspective view partly insection of a modified form of tensioning device applied toa metal bed frame; Fig. 19 is a fragmentary plan view showing a device of the character shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is -a fragmentary perspective view of a still further modification of the tensicning apparatus; and Fig. 21 is a top-plan View of a construction of the character shown in Fig.

In Fig. 1, a construction, particularly suitable for applicationto a wooden bed, is disclosed. In said figure a bed frame comprising corner posts 1, side members 2, 3 and end members l, 5, is shown. At the ends of each of the end and side frame members, clips 6 are attached, preferably by means of screws 7, or similar fastening elements as is more particularly shown in Fig. 2. Each clip preferably comprises a sheet metal plate having a projecting tongue 8 at its upper edge, bent so as to receive a cable or tensioning wire, and having a pair of similar tongues, 9, .10 formedfrom a struck up portion of the metal ad acent its lower-central portion. A plurality of screw holes 11, are

.formed through the plate to receive the screws 7,0 2 similar fastening elements.

'The details of'the clip or plate construction are shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing, and in Fig. 1- thereof a bracket member 12 adapted to co-operate therewith is illustrated. Said bracket member is preferably formed from a sheet metal blank so folded as to provide a top horizontal s )orting plate 13, having a downwardly en ending tongue 1 1 at its rearward edge, and having a pair of tapered side wings engularly disposed end extensions 16, which serve as braces for supporting said top plate. The downwardly extending tongue 14: at the rearward edge of the top plate is adapted to be engaged behind the struck up member 9 of the plate 6 so as to support the bracket member 12 in a position to project inwardly from the side and end members of the bed frame, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

A modified form of plate and supporting bracket is disclosed in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive. 1 In said construction, the plate 21 is provided with a pair of lateral ears 22, which project forwardly above the face of the plate, and are ap'ertured adjacent their ends to receive a securing pin 23. At the upper ed e of the plate, a projecting tongue is provided, and adjacent the lower-portion of said plate, a similar tongue 25 is struck up from the body of the plate, said re spective tongues being adapted to receive the upper and lower tensioning cables or wires, as will be presently described.v

The plate 21 is provided with screw holes 26 to receive the screws or fastening elethe supporting pin 29 is adapted to be ii serted. l he supporting bracket may thus be securely fastened to the plate 21, or readily removed therefrom, as may be required.

The purpose of the plate and bracket arrangements, above described, is clearly shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. Thus, in Fig. 7, wherein a bracket 21 is shown as secured to a side rail of a metal bed, the bracket 27 is omittedin order to permit the use of a box spring 8 1, the lower portion of whichproj ects past the position of the supporting bracket, and the projecting upper edge of which rests upon the top flange of the side rail in the usual manner. When the same bed is to be'used to support a spring in the usual manner, as distinct from a box spring, the bracket 27 is attached to a plate 21 by means of the pin 23, as is shown in 8. lhe spring frame 35 will then rest upon the top plate of the bracket, and the spring, 36 will support a mattress 37 of the'usual type. In

adapted to engage an upper and lower cable length and hold the same against the side or end members at such'points in close proximity to'the inner facesof theside and end mem bers of the bed frame.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 1, the tensioning device comprises a pair of flexible elements shown in the form of wires, 42, 43, which are looped over the ends of an equalizing plate 44, at one end of the bed, positioned adjacent theccntral part and inner side of the end member 5, and provided at their free ends with a series of links 45, 46,

, which are adapted to'be engaged respectively over the ends of T-shaped terminal elements 47, 48 forming part of a turn buckle, having an internally screw threaded barrel 49, engaged over the oppositely threaded shanks 51, 52 of said T-shaped terminals.

The barrel 49 is provided with a transverse aperture through which an operating bar 53 is engaged. Said operating bar is provided at either end with an enlargement 54, which prevents disengagement from said barrel shaped member, and which permits the readv sliding of said bar through said barrel dur ing the successive steps of tightening or loosening the tension upon the cables by means of said turn buckle.

The equalizing device 44 comprises a plate, preferably of stamped sheet metal, having its ends curved so as to provide arcuate cable engaging terminals 55 at either end.

From the construction just described, it will be obvious that when the upper length of wire 42, 43 is engaged with its central portion over the terminals, 55, and with its intermediate portions engaged behind the upper and lower tongues, respectively, of the plates 6, with the chain loops upon the free end of said wires engaged over the opposite ends of'the T-heads, thereby turning said turn buckle barrel in a direction to bring said T heads together, that an equal'degree of tension will be applied to the wires, and the side and end members of the bed frame will be drawn into contact with their respective,

corner posts. In this manner, all lost motion which may be developed between the frame members of a bedstead, or similar article of furniture, may be readily removed by placing the necessary degree of tension upon the turn buckle.

In Fig. 11 there is shown a modified form of construction of turn buckle, theT heads thereof comprising bars 61, provided with a series of notches 62. The outer'sides of said bars are provided with a central. depression 63 adapted'to be engaged by an enlargement 64 formed on the inner side of a strap-like body portion 65, having the headoi a screw threaded member 66, the shank of which is engaged within the barrel 67 of the turn buckle. Upon the. outer side of said strap like headfa hook 66 is provided. The'barrel the wire loops,

portion of the turn buckle is provided-with a transverse apertu're68, through which the pin or operating bar 69 is s'lidingly engaged; At each end of said bar an enlargement7l is rovided' in order to revent the disene'a e- 7 P o b ment of said barfromsaid barrel, as the same is shifted from end to end in the-course 4 the flexible members comprise respectively 72, 73, which areengaged at their respective endsover an equalizing plate 74, and over the Y-shaped terminal of the turn buckle 76. Plates 7 7 of the type; shownin Fig. 8 are attached to the respective side and end frame members adjacent the corner posts and the upper and lower stretches of said loops are engaged respectively with the respective tongues on said plates. The equalizing device as is more particularly shown in'Fig. 13 comprises a plate 6 7 4 having a flat body portion through which a pair of screw holes are provided to receive fastening screws 78, and is shaped at 1ts respectlve ends to provide arcuate slots 79, WllZ-llin which the wire loops 72,73 are respectively engaged;

The turn buckles illustrated in Figs. 12 and 14, each provide Y-shaped cable engaging terminals 7 5, which lie substantially in the plane of the axial line of said turn buckle. In the form of turn buckle shown in Fig. 14, single wire hooks, 81 are provided inside the Y portions thereof, said hooks being intended to permit said turn buckles to be used upon beds'of different construction, being adapted either for Wooden or'metal beds and double or single wire tensioning elements. In the construction shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17 a form of tensioning device is disclosed, which permits the tensioning operation to be carried on, irrespective or whether the box spring or standard spring of a bedstead is in position between the frame members. Inssaid construction, two loop engaging members 82, 83, respectively, are pro vided, the'member 82 having a shank 84 adapted to be telescopically engaged withina slide-way 85, provided upon the member 83. The member '82 is provided with a series of teeth 86 upon one side adjacent the end of the shank portion, and at its opposite end carries a Y-shaped cable engaging yoke 87. A hook 88 may be formed centrally of said the hook 81 shownin Fig. 14.- The member 83 is provided with a Y-shaped portion 91 similar to the Y-shaped head on the shank 84, and

-Y-shaped portion-in a manner similar tof likewise has a central hook 92. The body scopically within the a. applied to the turn buckle in the usual man- 81 thereof.

v a cut-away portion 94 adjacent its free end .said ears and is adapted to engage the rack teeth 86.. Onthe under side of the body portion of the member 83, opposite the yoke '91 thereof, an extension 97 isprovided to which is pivoted a lever 98, carrying at its upper end a pivoted pawl 99.

1A5 will be obvious, the shifting of the lever will serve to move the member 82 telemember 83 and will thus apply'tension to the'cables engaged over the respective Y heads 87 and 91.- The dog 96 will maintain the adjustment thus brought about until released in the usual manner.

Inthe. form of construction illustrated in Fig. 18, an arrangement particularly suited for use on a metal bed-is disclosed. In said construction pair of straps 101, 102 are provided about the corner posts 103 above and below the side and end rails 104, 105, respectively, and the ends of said straps are secured by means of pins or bolts'106, 107 to a bow shaped member 108, provided on its outer side with a hook-109, over which the flexible tensioning member 111 is adapted to be engaged.

In the form of construction illustrated, the flexible member is preferably formed of a flat metal band or steel tape, one end 112. of which is provided with an eye adapted to engage over one ofthe terminal elements 113 of the turn buckle 114, and the other end of which is adapted to be received within a clamp 115 after the same has been passed about the opposite terminal 116 of said turn buckle. The free end 117 of said steel tape is passed'beneath an eccentric cam lever 118 forming part of said clamping device, and is firmly gripped therein in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 19 of the drawing.

In the construction illlustrated, tension is ner by means of the pin or tensioning bar 121. I

In the form of construction shown in Figs.

20 and 21 in place of a steel tape a single wire 122 is shown as the flexible tensioning element. The attachment secured to the corner post103 is identically the same as that disclosed in Fig. 18. Upon-each of the side and end members 104, 105-, a plate 123 is secured, the single wire being engaged beneath the central tongue 124 thereof. The

turnbuckle shown in connection with said construction shown in Fig. 20 is of the type illustrated in Fig. 14 and the single flexible tensioning member is engaged upon the hook In Fig. 21 the course of the single flexible tensioning member is shown diagrammatically, and it will be noted that V inward tension is placed upon the post 108,

as well as upon the side and end members 104 and 105 respectively. j

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, changev being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the meansstated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such statedmeans be employed.

' I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. A tensioning device having in combination a frame having corner posts and horizontal frame 'members securing members adapted to be attached to said horizontal frame members adjacent the corners of the frame, flexiblev means forming a closed loop adapted to engage each of said securing memaid respective posts, securing members attached to each of said posts, additional securing members attached to the ends of said re spective side andend frame members adjacent said corner posts, flexible members forming a closed loop having running engagement with said securing members, and lying adjacent and parallel to the inner faces of said and end frame members, and means for tensioning said loop and thus. applying tension to all the securing members,

3. A device of the character described, having in combination a plurality of corner posts, side and end frame members disposed between said respective posts, double ended clips secured to said end and side frame members adjacent said corner posts, flexible means having running engagement with the upper and lower ends of said clips and means for applying tension to said flexible means.

ing in combination a plurality of corner posts,

side and end frame members disposed between said respective posts, double ended clips secured to said end and side frame members adjacent said corner posts, flexible means having running engagement with the upper and lowends of said clips, means for applying tension to said flexible means, and supporting means adapted to be detachably connected with said clips. r r I 5. A device of the character'described, having in combination a plurality of corner posts, side and end frame members disposed between said respective posts, double ended clips secured to said end and side frame members adjacent said corner posts, a pair of looped flexible elements engaged over the upper and lower ends of said clips successively about the respective halves of said structure, a tensioning device interposed between the ends of said loops adjacent one side of said frame struc-' ture and an equalizing device interposed between said loops adjacent the opposite side of said frame structure.

6. A device of the character described, having in combination a plurality of corner posts, side and end frame members disposed between said respective posts, double ended clips secured to said end and side frame members adjacent said corner posts, a pair of looped flexible elements engaged over the upper and lower ends of said clips successively about a semi-circumference of said structure, a tensioning device interposed between the ends of said loops adjacent one side of said frame structures, a plate slidably positioned adjacent the other side of said frame structure, and a cable engaging means provided at each end of said plate and adapted to be engaged within the loops of saidfiexible members.

Signed by me this 3rd day of June, 1925.

THEODORE H. WITTLIFF. 

